Brookstonehttp://www.maclife.com/taxonomy/term/11954/all
enMorning Report: Apple Pay Limitations, No RAM Upgrade Path for 2014 Mac minihttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/morning_report_apple_pay_limitations_no_ram_upgrade_path_2014_mac_mini
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/apple_pay_620px.png" alt="Apple Pay" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>In just a few short hours, iPhone 6 owners will be able to download iOS 8.1 and start using Apple Pay at retail stores — but before you head out to the store, there are a few limitations you should be aware of, as outlined in our Monday Morning Report. We've also got some bummer news about upgrading RAM in the new Mac mini (spoiler: you can't), and a unique solution for making eye contact while chatting on an iPad.</p><h3>Eddy Cue Tempers Expectations Ahead of Apple Pay Launch</h3><p><a href="http://online.wsj.com/articles/apple-pay-rolls-out-with-holes-in-system-1413762943?tesla=y" target="_blank"><em>The Wall Street Journal</em> reported Sunday</a> that Apple Pay may not be a home run right out of the gate — despite nabbing the support of the six largest credit card issuers who handle 83 percent of all transactions and 500 banks on the way, the system has a few limitations Apple executives haven't talked about until now.<br /><br />Among them are a lack of support for corporate credit cards, prepaid debit cards, and store-branded cards — even those from launch partners like Macy's and Bloomingdale's. (A Macy's spokesman says support is coming "eventually.") But the biggest issue of them all may be the absence of near-field-communications-enabled point-of-sale terminals at retailers.<br /><br />“We’re trying to do something that I think is a game changer and it requires a lot of people to play together,” Apple senior vice president of Internet software and services Eddy Cue said in an interview. “There’s a lot to do here and we have a lot of work to do, but it should be huge.”<br /><br />Apple anticipates the largest share of initial Apple Pay transactions will come from in-app purchases, as well as those from web stores. The latest iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 models shipping this week can also take participate in such payments, but can't be used at retail stores, which is limited to the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus for now.</p><h3>There's No Way to Upgrade RAM in Latest 2014 Mac mini</h3><p>Aside from the $100 price cut, Apple's late 2014 Mac mini upgrade appears to have brought more bad news than good, with Cupertino axing the build-to-order quad-core processor option and capping dual-drive storage options at 1TB. <a href="http://www.macrumors.com/2014/10/17/mac-mini-soldered-ram/" target="_blank">According to MacRumors</a>, the biggest limitation of all might be the inability for owners to upgrade RAM on their own.<br /><a href="http://blog.macminicolo.net/post/100240431773/a-look-at-the-2014-mac-mini" target="_blank"><br />In a blog post on Macminicolo</a>, Brian Stucki confirms that RAM on the new units are "not user accessible" because Apple has soldered the memory to the motherboard. Users can upgrade to 16GB of RAM, but that option can only be done at the time of purchase. Users apparently will be able to replace or upgrade the hard drive in their late 2014 Mac mini, but at the risk of voiding the machine's warranty.</p><h3>iTOi Video Producer Brings Direct Eye Contact to iPad</h3><p>Video chat is great, but one big limitation is the absence of direct eye contact between users. The <a href="http://www.seeitoi.com/booth/" target="_blank">iTOi Video Booth</a> attempts to solve this problem with patented optical technology that makes it possible to look directly into the iPad camera while still being able to see who you're chatting with on the other end. Compatible with FaceTime, Skype, or Google Hangouts, the Video Booth can become a mini production suite with the free companion <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/itoi-producer/id788315707?mt=8" target="_blank">iTO Video Producer</a> app, which converts any iPad into a teleprompter. iTOi Video Booth is now available exclusively at Brookstone for $149.99.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="https://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/morning_report_apple_pay_limitations_no_ram_upgrade_path_2014_mac_mini#commentsNewsApple PayBrookstoneinstallationiOS 8.1iphone 6iTOiMac minimobile paymentsMorning ReportRAMRetail StoresVideo BoothiPadiPhoneMacMon, 20 Oct 2014 12:34:05 +0000J.R. Bookwalter20816 at http://www.maclife.comPortable Bluetooth Speaker Reviews: Braven 600, UE Mobile Boombox, Big Blue Livehttp://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/portable_bluetooth_speaker_reviews_braven_600_ue_mobile_boombox_big_blue_live
<!--paging_filter--><p>Small Bluetooth speakers don’t care if your device has Lightning or 30-pin, or even if it’s a Mac or an Android phone. You can stream music from any Bluetooth device, and the audio-in lets you connect anything with a headphone jack. You won’t be blowing anyone’s hairpiece off with the sound, but they’re portable enough for travel.</p><p>The Braven 600 won the prize for sound quality: crisp, clear, and well defined. The 6-watt speaker also got louder than the other two we tested, and the built-in rechargeable 1400mAh battery kept it playing for nearly 12 hours—you can even connect your iPhone or other USB-charging device to its USB port and use some of that battery power to top off. At 6.3 x 2.5 x 1.8 inches and 12 ounces, it’s the longest speaker in our test, but also the thinnest, and easy to tote around, even poking out of your back pocket. The red aluminum (also available in black) looks great, but it’s the least sturdy on a table; we kept knocking it over with any little bump.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u330237/2013/01/speakers_620.jpg" width="620" height="630" /><br /><strong>From top to bottom: Logitech UE Boombox, Big Blue Live, Braven 600</strong></p><p>Logitech’s UE Mobile Boombox has a good-looking, rubberized exterior available in all black (shown) or in black-and-red, black-and-green, all white, and blue-and-white. It’s short and squat at 4.4 x 2.6 x 2.4 inches, and the lightest in this test at 10.5 ounces. The rechargeable battery lasts 10 hours, and it was easy to not only pair lots of devices (up to eight before it stops making new pairings), but also connect two devices at once and take turns playing. Unfortunately, it couldn’t get as loud as the other two speakers we tested, and the sound quality was just OK at mid volumes but quickly got distorted and icky past 80 percent or so.&nbsp;</p><p>The Big Blue Live from Brookstone comes in white or black, measuring only slightly larger than the UE Mobile Boombox at 5 x 2.5 x 2.36 inches. It’s the heaviest speaker we tested, at 1.4 pounds, but it’s still easy to tote around. Its 4-watt output sounded fuller and louder than the UE Mobile Boombox, but a little muddy compared to the Braven. Big Blue Live is the only speaker here that has forward/back buttons on the speaker, along with volume up/down, but the low-profile plastic buttons still look and feel a little chintzy.</p><p><strong>The bottom line.</strong> Any of these is a great option for moving from room to room as you clean, rocking out in hotels, and streaming a ball game while you man the grill. They aren’t powerful enough for a house party, but all of them beat the $70 iHome iDM11 we reviewed a few issues back (Jul/12, p63, 3.5/5 stars). The Braven’s long life, great sound, sharp looks, and ability to top off a device’s power give it the edge over the less expensive, still-solid UE Mobile Boombox and Big Blue Live.</p><hr><p><strong>Product: Braven 600</strong></p><p><strong>Company: </strong>Braven<br /><strong>Contact: </strong><a href="http://www.braven.com" target="_blank">www.braven.com</a></p><p><a href="http://www.braven.com" target="_blank"></a><strong>Price:</strong> $149.99</p><p><strong>Requirements:</strong> Audio device with Bluetooth or headphone jack</p><p><strong>Pros:</strong> USB port to top off your iPhone charge. 12 hour battery (1400mAh). Best sound. Handsome red aluminum exterior (also comes in “mountain ash” black). Line in and line out for daisy-chaining.</p><p><strong>Cons:</strong> No playback controls on the speaker, just volume. More expensive than the other two.&nbsp;</p><p><img src="/files/u330237/2013/01/score_4_620.png" width="620" height="101" /></p><hr><p><strong>Product: UE Mobile Boombox</strong></p><p><strong>Company:&nbsp;</strong>Logitech<br /><strong>Contact:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.logitech.com" target="_blank">www.logitech.com</a></p><p><strong>Price:</strong> $99.99</p><p><strong>Requirements:</strong> Audio device with Bluetooth or headphone jack</p><p><strong>Pros:</strong> Comes in a bunch of colors. Pair up to eight devices and connect two at once. 50 foot range. 10-hour battery life.</p><p><strong>Cons:</strong> No playback controls on the speaker. Most distortion at high volumes.&nbsp;</p><p><img src="/files/u330237/2013/01/score_3_620.png" /></p><hr><p><strong>Product: Big Blue Live</strong></p><p><strong>Company: </strong>Brookstone<br /><strong>Contact:&nbsp;</strong><a href="http://www.brookstone.com" target="_blank">www.brookstone.com</a></p><p><strong>Price:</strong> $99.99</p><p><strong>Requirements:</strong> Audio device with Bluetooth or headphone jack</p><p><strong>Pros:</strong> Good sound. Playback controls.</p><p><strong>Cons:</strong> Heaviest of the three. Six hours of charge time is half as much as the Braven 600.&nbsp;</p><p><img src="/files/u330237/2013/01/score_35_620.png" width="620" height="99" /></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/portable_bluetooth_speaker_reviews_braven_600_ue_mobile_boombox_big_blue_live#commentsReviewsAudioBig Blue LivebluetoothBravenBraven 600BrookstoneHardwareLogitechspeakersUE Mobile BoomboxiPadiPhoneiPodMacFri, 11 Jan 2013 21:19:07 +0000Susie Ochs15980 at http://www.maclife.comThursday Recap: Centipede Origins, Employee Discounts, Brookstone Gadgetshttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/thursday_recap_centipede_origins_employee_discounts_brookstone_gadgets
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/centipede_origins_200px.png" alt="Centipede: Origins" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />Brookstone has some cool new gadgets on the way, Apple employees are getting a hefty discount on their next Mac or iPad, Tweetbot for Mac may be on the way and OMG! There's a new Centipede game in the App Store from Atari! Excuse us, we've got to go now… sorry for the rush, just sit back and enjoy the news for Thursday, June 21, 2012, won't you?</p><h3>Atari Releases Centipede: Origins for iOS</h3><p>Once, a long time ago, there was a young boy who frequented a pizza shop near his parents' home. Inside that pizza shop was Centipede, the classic Atari video game that introduced most of us to the trackball. While the young boy is now a middle-aged man, he still enjoys a good game of Centipede now and again -- and for the cost of only four games back in the '80s, he can buy the classic all over again and enjoy it on his iPhone, iPod touch or iPad anytime he likes. That's because Atari has today released <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/centipede-origins/id477148771?mt=8" target="_blank">Centipede: Origins</a>, a modernized version of the bug shooting epic available as a universal app for all devices running iOS 4.0 or later. Won't you share in the memories of a tired old fan and purchase a copy for your very own?</p><h3>Apple Employees Now Receiving Some Nice Hardware Discounts</h3><p>While working at an Apple retail store probably isn't as cool as some of us might imagine, we can't help but turn green with envy whenever we read stories like this. <a href="http://9to5mac.com/2012/06/20/apple-starts-500-off-macs-250-off-ipads-employee-discount-program/" target="_blank">9to5Mac is reporting</a> that Apple's new employee discount plan kicked in this week, offering a $500 discount on eligible Macs (basically everything except the Mac mini and the latest MacBook Pro with Retina Display) or $250 off an iPad -- and that's on top of the company's already generous 25 percent discount for working there. Before you start scheming to get hired, work a few days and cash in on those sweet deals, note that employees have to stick it out through a probationary period before the discounts kick in, so be prepared to work for The Man for a bit before you cash in.</p><h3>Brookstone Announces HDMI Pocket Projector, Virtual Keyboard</h3><p>Gadget lovers might want to head to their nearest Brookstone retail outlet this summer, because the company has announced a pair of nifty accessories that you surely won't want to live without. First up is the $299.99 <a href="http://www.brookstone.com/hdmi-pocket-projector" target="_blank">HDMI Pocket Projector</a>, a rechargeable, portable device for projecting movies, presentations and games with a crisp image up 60 inches on any flat surface. Paired with Apple's Digital AV Adapter, an iPhone, iPod touch or iPad can become a big-screen, 1080p marvel. Or maybe you're looking for a swanky new keyboard for your phone or tablet, such as the $99.99 <a href="http://www.brookstone.com/laser-projection-virtual-keyboard" target="_blank">Brookstone Virtual Keyboard</a>? Featuring a 72-key, full-size QWERTY keyboard with a Lithium-ion battery rechargeable via USB for more than two hours of typing via Bluetooth, it's sure to be a hit with business travelers and those averse to hardware keyboards. The HDMI Pocket Projector hits stores on July 1, while the Virtual Keyboard slides into view in August; both are also available from the company's online store.</p><h3>Time Examines "The Cult of Apple in China"</h3><p>Just when the controversy surrounding Apple's manufacturing in China finally starts to subside, leave it to <em>TIME</em> magazine to stir things up again. <a href="http://world.time.com/2012/06/21/cover-story-the-cult-of-apple-in-china/" target="_blank">This week's cover story focuses the spotlight squarely back on Apple and China</a>, where Beijing bureau chief Hannah Beech claims "the cult of Apple is booming" -- not that they needed to tell us that. “People in China buy Apple because it symbolizes an individualistic Western lifestyle,” says Yang Xi, a 29-year-old in Beijing who owns more Apple products than most Americans. “In China, there are so many people. We like the idea of something that makes you special, that you can make your own.” Should be an interesting read, although the full article is only available online to subscribers at the moment.</p><h3>Developers Quietly Confirming Existence of Tweetbot for Mac</h3><p>Now here's a curious turn of events: Despite developer Tapbots previously claiming they had no interest in developing Tweetbot for Mac, several members of the company have been quietly tweeting away from just such an application, <a href="https://twitter.com/markjardine/status/215868674232434688" target="_blank">which culminated today with a screenshot posted by designer Mark Jardine</a> showing off how the app looks on his new MacBook Pro with Retina Display. "The screen on the retina MBP is just gorgeous," Jardine tweeted coyly earlier today, showing off what clearly appears to be a Mac version of the popular third-party Twitter app. Although we're partial to Echofon ourselves because of the Mac to iOS timeline syncing, we might have to rethink that dedication should Tweetbot for Mac arrive in the near future. (And no, we have no idea when it might be released…)<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/thursday_recap_centipede_origins_employee_discounts_brookstone_gadgets#commentsNewsApp Storeapple employeesAtariBrookstoneCentipedeChinadaily recapgadgetsTimeTweetbotTwitteriPadiPhoneiPodMacThu, 21 Jun 2012 21:02:39 +0000J.R. Bookwalter14385 at http://www.maclife.com